Title :: Becoming Irresistible

Chapter Two – Everything Changes

Author :: Lord-Azula

Fandom :: Harry Potter

Pairing :: Hermione Granger/Ginny Weasley

Warning :: FEMSLASH In later chapters this story will contain sexual displays between two women which may or may not be consensual…I haven't decided yet.

Disclaimer :: For the familiar, I don't own them; for the rest, I am making them up. All the while thinking of naughty things to do with them.

Becoming Irresistible

Chapter Two :: Everything Changes

Morning came too soon as far as she was concerned. The sun peering through her open window reeled her out of Morpheus' realm. Open? "I swear I didn't open that window." Hermione walked over and looked out admiring the view, but still wondering how her window had opened. She didn't open it. "I don't think I did…" she trailed off. Closing the window she turned and stretched, a smile finding its way to her lips. Her dreams always helped her understand herself. Her feelings. She felt good. She had some news to tell her best friend. Today would be a good day.

The bustling and shuffling had started and woke Ginny from her slumber. She sat up and yawned, rubbing the sleep from her eyes and peeled back her bed curtains. The light was almost blinding. She was rooming with some first years who had neglected to hinder their excitement at beginning their classes after breakfast. Ginny laughed to herself remembering her anxiety when she started school. She couldn't blame them. They said 'hello', she asked 'how was your first night?' and they parted ways to begin their morning routines.

Now washed and dressed, Hermione trode the hall to where Ginny was bunking. She took a breath and a second before her knuckles connected with the wooden frame, the door opened revealing the matted brushfire of hair sported by the Weasley's youngest child. Ginny jumped upon colliding with Hermione and laughed as they apologized.

After a moment Hermione cleared her throat and spoke, "Is it crazy hair day and I didn't get the memo?" she joked.

"I'd like to see you when you first wake up, thanks very much." Ginny shot back joking with her friend.

"After you wash how bout you meet me in the common room? We can walk to breakfast." Ginny smiled at Hermione's gentle request and agreed that it would be, "My pleasure."

Hermione left Ginny to ready herself. It never did take her too long to get ready but since she was going to be spending the day with Hermione it seemed, she took extra care to look her best. She mumbled to herself as she rummaged through her chest and luggage trying to pick out an outfit that would compliment her developing features. Ginny knew she was attractive and did not hide it if she could help it. She wanted to be sure that fact did not slip past Hermione either.

Fifteen minutes after a personal modeling show for her mirror, Ginny had donned a thin, sleeveless top that when she stretched would show her midsection. She wore shorts landing at the middle of her thighs and her dirty boots. So the boots were a bit off but they were comfortable. She decided on a single braid to expose her neck and a small assortment of bracelets to show off her feminine wrists. She may have been a tomboy but Ginny Weasley could doll it up when she liked. And she liked Hermione, she admitted to herself. So why not flirt? What harm could it do?

Throwing her pack over one shoulder she took the stairs, two at a time, down to the common room to meet up with Hermione. The growing conversation downstairs caught her attention.

"Are you serious?" "Wow, I never would've guessed!" "No, we're fine with it, are you kidding?" "How do you know?" "Have you kissed a girl then?"

The final question landed Ginny in the middle of a group of giggling girls swarming around Hermione. "What's all this?" Ginny asked perplexed.

"Ginny," began a third year, Meredith Charlton, "Hermione's gay!"

Several 'eep's could be heard echoing excitedly through the circle.

Ginny's head whipped around so fast, one might have thought she was auditioning for the Exorcist. Her eyes caught Hermione's as if to say 'well that was quick'. Hermione pushed past her admirers to grab hold of Ginny who had stormed away clearly aggravated.

"Gin, hey! Wait up!" Hermione rushed to keep up with her. Ginny had made it out of the common room and was squeezing through bunches of gibbering students to get as far away from Hermione as she could. Last night she was confused and now she's gay! What next, she'll want to play Quidditch!? Since Hermione had a fear of heights, flying was something she avoided. Playing Quidditch was never an option.

"Ginny, please can we just talk!?" Hermione pursued but to no avail. Ginny had slipped from her sight. Hermione stood, dejected and hurt that her best friend was now, purposefully avoiding her.

It seemed Ginny had skipped out on breakfast, too. Hermione spent an hour in the Great Hall looking for the red head, but was met with disappointment.

"Hermione, are you alright?" Draco's voice found its way into Hermione's wave of depression.

"I can't find Ginny and I really need to just talk to her. No one's seen her at all!" Hermione sat almost breaking into tears. Draco sat beside her.

"I'll help you find her. And though I'm surprised you didn't think of it first, there is a locator charm we can use to get to her." Draco smiled. "That, and a little thing called apparation."

Hermione pinched the tears that were threatening to fall and looked to the fair haired boy. He's more of a young man now isn't he? She noticed the patch of light hair around his jaw. Seems he's growing it out. "That would be great, thank you." She replied and he led her out of the Great Hall to the grounds.

They sat across from each other and Draco explained the charm. Hermione took a breath and they were ready to begin. All Hermione had to do was think about what it was she wanted, who she wanted to find. That would not be a problem. She thought hard of Ginny Weasley. Of the red hair she briefly noticed had been braided. The muscles contracting in the toned arms and legs as Ginny had bolted away from her. She bit back the tears.

"There we go." Draco broke in. "Looks like she's by the pond." He looked sincere. "Do you want me to go with you?" He asked Hermione.

"No, that's alright thanks. But I don't think Ginny would like me popping out of nowhere with you beside me." She shrugged. "No offense."

He nodded. "None taken. I understand." He helped Hermione to her feet. "I hope everything goes alright." Draco wished her luck and headed back towards the castle.

Hermione rolled her shoulders to release the anxious tension building in her system and with a 'pop!' she was gone.

'Pop!' Ginny sprung to her feet, wand at the ready and eyes fixed in the direction of the intruder. She knew the sound of apparation well, since her brothers had popped in and out every chance they got. Ginny glared when she saw Hermione standing in front of her. "Get. Away. From me." She hissed through gritted teeth.

"Ginny, please…" Hermione put her hand on Ginny's shoulder and was swiftly slapped away as Ginny backed from her.

"Leave me the fuck alone! Just get away from me, okay!" Ginny was furious and the rage in her eyes did not go unnoticed. Hermione stepped back, scared by the anger she saw in the young girls face. She had never seen Ginny so…pissed, to put it lightly.

"Ginny, can we just talk?" Hermione's voice was cautious. Ginny's eyes burned into her. Hermione took another step back.

Ginny turned away. After a moment she spoke. "How do you go from one night being confused about you are, to the next morning being gay?" The question was soaking in accusation. Ginny had her eyes bared shut trying to control her temper. She was angry and confused. She didn't see how Hermione could be asking her to help find herself and the next minute know who she was already.

"I dream all the time Ginny." This earned Hermione a 'what-does-that-have-to-do-with-anything' glare which only a Weasley can issue properly, and Hermione persisted. "When I dream, I tend to understand things. To understand myself better." She paused to see if Ginny would reply, and when she didn't, Hermione continued. "I didn't expect to figure it all out so soon. I didn't think I would feel so comfortable with myself – so confident." Ginny turned to look at her but still said nothing.

"I still need help Gin." Hermione began. "There are still things I don't understand and I need help." She stepped closer to Ginny and sighed relieved when Ginny stayed where she was. "I told you last night that I liked a girl…"

"You said you wanted to kiss a girl. Liking someone and wanting to kiss someone can be two different things." Ginny interrupted.

"Okay, well to clarify what I meant," Hermione took another step, "I like a girl. I have liked her for a long while. I didn't know how to admit it." Hermione seemed to find her sandals very interesting now.

"How am I supposed to help you with that Hermione?" Ginny folded her arms across her chest. "You know you like her, so there you go. What else is there?"

"I don't know how to tell her." Hermione blushed as she looked to her friend and said, "I'm old-fashioned in some ways I guess. I want to ask her on a date. Court her, flatter her…" she seemed lost in her thoughts.

When Ginny spoke this time her tones were gentle, "I still don't know how I'm supposed to help with that." Ginny say by the edge of the pond and dipped her toes in. Her boots had been discarded and were shaded under a willow tree. Not a whomping one, thankfully. Hermione came to sit next to her and put her hand and Ginny's shoulder.

"What would win you over?" Hermione asked. "What would a girl have to do to make you hers?" The question was innocent enough, but Hermione had hidden context laced between every syllable. Ginny looked to her almost amused and then answered, "Kiss me." Hermione looked as if her eyes were about to bulge at Ginny's words. Ginny laughed and said, "What I mean is…personally for me, if I like a girl, the best way to get the point across is to just kiss her." She continued, "Or if she likes me, for her to kiss me."

There was a pause only broken by the wind whipping through the willow's leaves and the blades of grass shivering in their late morning dew drops. "But in your case," Ginny went on, "to be courted, I suppose it would be nice to get flowers." Ginny thought. "Small things. Hand-written notes…and flowers." She leaned over to pick a small bud beginning to bloom and handed it to Hermione, who blushed. She thought more on the subject. "And I wouldn't want to keep it a secret. I would want people to know. I'm not shy about who I am and I wouldn't want to hide a relationship or anything." She couldn't think of what else to say except, "What I would really like the best though…" Hermione perked up to listen as Ginny lowered her voice, "is to be seduced." A teasing smirk played across her lips and she laughed at Hermione's shocked expression.

Ginny stood pulling Hermione up with her. "I'm sorry I was so pissed. I just…it was kind of unexpected that you…" Hermione hugged her friend cutting her off from her apology and said, "Its okay. I wanted to tell you first really. I was kind of practicing what to say and Meredith overheard me." She ran a hand through her hair. "You know what happened next."

The two friends walked arm-in-arm back up to the castle and proceeded to the library as they had planned. It was then that Ginny remember she had wanted to ask Hermione about a picnic. She had an idea. "Hey Bookworm, you look around and I'll be right back. I forgot about something." Ginny kissed Hermione on the cheek, as had become habit, and headed to the kitchens.

Ginny hummed to herself thinking about what to pack when she noticed her path was cut off by Draco Malfoy talking to the Headmistress. The two paused their conversation and Ginny, expecting a scowl from Draco, was taken back when he kindly smiled at her and moved aside to allow her entrance to the kitchens. "Are you feeling alright, Malfoy?" Ginny quipped, not caring that Professor McGonagall was standing beside him.

Draco asked the Headmistress if they could 'please resume our conversation later on' and turned to face Ginny. She was prepared for his insult, ready and waiting, but could only stare at him when he said, "I'm sorry."

"Wait, what? You're never sorry for anything!" she chimed.

"I am." He replied. "I'm sorry for being a jerk and for the things I've said about you and your family." He seems honest Ginny thought. But I can't trust him. She let him know it.

"I don't trust you Malfoy." She growled. "You've been a liar and a cheater ever since I met you. If you want to talk to me it's going to take a heap of atonement and I highly doubt that'll be enough." He nodded.

"When I was talking with Hermione she said something to me that I believe is very true." Ginny had to mentally shake herself at the image of Hermione and Draco having a civilized conversation. "She said that what I have done is unforgettable, but not totally unforgivable. " Ginny continued to glare. "I know I can't make you forget what I've done. But I was a different person then. I thought joining You-Know-Who would bring me honor. It brought anything but."

Draco sat and after a moment of hesitation, Ginny sat across from him. He continued, "But that's what I wanted to say. I'm sorry. I hope you can forgive me…someday." He stood abruptly and she in turn stood with him. She gave him the once-over and in a drawled, monotone voice said, "I'll think about it." He nodded and said good day.

Ginny stood staring after him. What is he playing at? When did he talk to Hermione? Why is he talking to me? Talking. He was actually talking, not insulting as was their usual exchangeShe dropped him from her mind, for the moment, and went to speak with a house elf about preparing a picnic basket.

While waiting for her order, Ginny sat and thought about Hermione's reaction to her saying that she would like to be seduced. Ginny laughed at this. It was almost as if the older girl had never heard the word before. Seduce. I would love to seduce her. The red head rolled her eyes. C'mon, she can't be that innocent!

Innocent or not, it seemed definite that something was changing. Things were different this year. Ginny smiled again at how Hermione blushed when she would touch her cheek. Sighing, Ginny reflected yes, everything changes this year.